Arkansas Administrative Code

9 CAR § 30-417. Visitation. (a) The agency that has legal responsibility for the child shall develop a visitation plan that specifies when and how visits will occur between the child and the parents. (b) The child placement agency shall carry out the visitation plan to meet the t…

9 CAR § 30-418. Staffing requirements, staff training, and support. (a) Primary responsibilities of program staff shall include: (1) Treatment planning; (2) Leadership of the treatment team; (3) Case management; (4) Clinical and administrative supervision; (5) Twenty-four-hour cr…

9 CAR § 30-419. Child placement agency responsibilities. (a) The child placement agency (“agency”) shall provide the foster parents with the information necessary to provide adequate care to each foster child. (b) The agency shall provide foster parents with instructions for cont…

9 CAR § 30-420. Monitoring and reevaluation. (a) The agency shall monitor the foster home at least quarterly for continued compliance with licensing standards for foster homes. (b) At least one (1) unannounced quarterly visit shall be conducted annually and shall be documented as…

9 CAR § 30-421. Discharge. (a) The discharge of any child shall be planned by agency staff. (b) The agency may discharge a child on an emergency basis if failure to do so could result in: (1) Harm to the child or other persons; or (2) Significant property damage. (c) The agency s…

9 CAR § 30-501. Applicable standards. In addition to all standards in 9 CAR § 30-201 et seq., the following standards shall be met.

9 CAR § 30-502. Licensing approval and monitoring. (a)(1) At the discretion of the Child Welfare Agency Licensing Unit, a multidisciplinary team may be asked to assist the licensing specialist in the initial study or during an investigation of a licensing complaint. (2) This team…

9 CAR § 30-503. Admission. (a) Each agency shall establish written criteria for admitting as well as excluding children. (b) The agency shall not admit any child for whom the agency cannot provide adequate care. (c) In order to be admitted to the program, one (1) of the following…

9 CAR § 30-504. Intake and assessment. (a) Intake information shall be completed on each child in care within ten (10) working days after admission. (b) The intake information shall include: (1) Demographic information on the child and parent or parents, including: (A) Name; (B) …

9 CAR § 30-505. Treatment planning. (a) The agency shall develop a treatment plan for each child that includes tasks appropriate to the needs of the child as identified in the intake information and psychosexual assessment. (b) The child’s treatment plan shall include a diagnosis…

9 CAR § 30-506. Children’s records behavior management. (a) The agency shall keep a confidential case record for each child that includes the following: (1) Demographic information; (2) Plan of safe care, if applicable; (3) A complete intake; (4) Consents, including consent for m…

9 CAR § 30-507. Behavior management. (a) The agency shall have a written discipline policy that is consistently followed. (b) Discipline shall be directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control. (c) Discipline shall be appropriate to the child’s: (1) Age; …

9 CAR § 30-508. Foster parent qualifications. (a) In a two-parent home: (1) Both shall be joint applicants; and (2) Each signs the application and participates in the approval process. (b) Foster parents shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age. (c) The stability of the fos…

9 CAR § 30-509. Content of the home study. (a) The agency shall complete a home study for each foster home. (b) The agency shall conduct at least one (1) scheduled in-home interview for each household member to: (1) Observe family functioning; and (2) Assess the family’s capacity…

9 CAR § 30-510. Physical requirements of the home. (a) A sexual rehabilitative foster home shall not be located within one thousand feet (1,000′) of: (1) An elementary school; (2) A childcare center; or (3) A childcare family home. (b) The foster home shall be accessible to commu…

9 CAR § 30-511. Sleeping arrangements. (a) Each household occupant shall have a bedroom that provides privacy. (b) Each bedroom shall have at least fifty square feet (50 sq. ft.) of floor space per occupant. (c) Each bedroom used for foster children shall have a window to the out…

9 CAR § 30-512. Approval of foster homes. (a) A foster home can be approved only by one (1) agency. (b) At least three (3) positive personal references shall be obtained regarding the foster family, including at least one (1) from a relative and one (1) from a nonrelative. (c) Ea…

9 CAR § 30-513. Selection of foster home. (a)(1) The agency shall select the home that is: (A) In the best interest of the child; (B) The least restrictive possible; and (C) Matched to the child’s physical and emotional needs. (2) The placement decision shall be based on an indiv…

9 CAR § 30-514. Continued training of foster parents. (a) Each foster parent shall complete at least twenty-four (24) hours of skill-based training annually, excluding CPR and first aid. (b) Documentation verifying annual training shall indicate the: (1) Date; (2) Number of hours…

9 CAR § 30-515. Therapeutic foster parent responsibilities. (a) Foster parents shall be responsible for providing the level of supervision, care, and treatment necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of each child placed into their home, taking into account the child’s: (1)…

9 CAR § 30-516. Medications. (a) The agency shall have an intervention policy that is nonmedical unless a specific medical condition is indicated. (b) When psychotropic medications are prescribed by a physician, they shall be used in concert with other interventions. (c) Foster p…

9 CAR § 30-517. Transportation. (a) Foster families shall have their own transportation available. (b) Any vehicles used to transport foster children shall be maintained in compliance with motor vehicle laws and be insured. (c) Children shall be transported only by foster parents…

9 CAR § 30-518. Visitation. (a) The agency that has legal responsibility for the child shall develop a visitation plan that specifies when and how visits will occur between the child and the parents. (b) The child placement agency shall carry out the visitation plan to meet the t…

9 CAR § 30-519. Staffing requirements, staff training, and support. (a) Primary responsibilities of program staff shall include: (1) Treatment planning; (2) Leadership of the treatment team; (3) Case management; (4) Clinical and administrative supervision; (5) Twenty-four-hour cr…

9 CAR § 30-520. Child placement agency responsibilities. (a)(1) The child placement agency (“agency”) shall provide the foster parents with the information necessary to provide adequate care to each foster child. (2) The agency shall provide foster parents with instructions for c…

9 CAR § 30-521. Monitoring and reevaluation. (a) The agency shall monitor the foster home at least quarterly for continued compliance with licensing standards for foster homes. (b) At least one (1) unannounced quarterly visit shall be conducted annually and shall be documented as…

9 CAR § 30-522. Discharge. (a) The discharge of any child shall be planned by agency staff. (b) The agency may discharge a child on an emergency basis if failure to do so could result in: (1) Harm to the child or other persons; or (2) Significant property damage. (c) The agency s…

9 CAR § 30-601. Applicable standards. In addition to all standards in 9 CAR § 30-201 et seq., the following standards shall be met.

9 CAR § 30-602. Selection of adoptive home. (a)(1) The agency shall select the home that is: (A) In the best interest of each child; and (B) Matched to the child’s physical and emotional needs. (2) The placement shall be based on an individual assessment of each child’s needs. (b…

9 CAR § 30-603. Approval process of prospective homes. (a) In a two-parent home, both shall actively participate in the approval process. (b) An adoptive parent shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age. (c) The agency shall ensure there is a completed home study for each pr…

9 CAR § 30-604. Contents of the home study. (a) A home study shall be conducted by a: (1) Caseworker of the agency; or (2) Licensed certified social worker. (b) The adoptive home study shall contain the following information, current to within one (1) year prior to each adoptive …

9 CAR § 30-605. Services to the adoptive parents. (a) The agency shall provide information to the adoptive applicants regarding the potential risks associated with adoption. (b) The agency shall provide a written statement of exclusion (for example, single parents or unwed couple…

9 CAR § 30-606. Services to birth parents. (a) If the agency is providing casework services to either birth parent, an intake shall be completed within thirty (30) days to identify services needed. (b) Counseling for both parents, if applicable, shall be offered, and shall includ…

9 CAR § 30-607. Birth parent records. If the agency has provided casework services to the birth parents, the following information shall be kept in a confidential file: (1) The birth parents’ intake information, including any reviews and updates; (2) All correspondence with the b…

9 CAR § 30-608. Agency responsibilities. (a)(1) The agency shall provide written policy that includes a complete description of all types of the birth mother’s expenses that may be passed through to the adoptive parents. (2) The policy shall include notice to the adoptive parents…

9 CAR § 30-609. Adoptive family records. (a) The agency shall keep a confidential case record for each family that receives a child for adoption. (b) The record shall contain: (1) The application to adopt; (2) The completed home study; (3) Criminal record checks and Child Maltrea…

9 CAR § 30-610. Record maintenance. (a) The agency shall maintain a permanent file on any adoption finalized that shall be accessed according to Arkansas law. (b) If the agency establishes or contracts with a mutual consent voluntary adoption registry, it shall be maintained acco…

9 CAR § 30-611. Branch offices. Any agency licensed in Arkansas shall provide the following information to the Child Welfare Agency Licensing Unit prior to opening a branch office in Arkansas: (1) The address, telephone numbers if available, and office hours for the branch office…

9 CAR § 30-701. Applicable standards. In addition to all applicable standards in 9 CAR § 30-201 et seq., the following standards shall be met: (1) The agency shall select the placement that is in the best interest of the child and is matched to the child’s physical and emotional …

9 CAR § 31-1001. Generally. (a)(1) In addition to all standards in 9 CAR § 31-201 et seq., the following standards shall be met. (2) Agencies holding a psychiatric residential treatment facilities license shall provide treatment in a nonhospital setting to children who do not req…

9 CAR § 31-1002. Licensing approval and monitoring. (a)(1) The agency shall have a written program description that is available to residents and parents or guardians. (2) The following information shall be included: (A) Program philosophy and mission; (B) Services and treatment …

9 CAR § 31-1003. Admission. (a) The facility shall not admit any child for whom the facility cannot provide adequate care. (b) A psychiatric residential treatment facility licensed under the Child Welfare Agency Licensing Act, Arkansas Code § 9-28-401 et seq., and holding a permi…

9 CAR § 31-1004. Assessment and treatment planning. (a) An assessment of services needed to ensure the health and welfare of each child, including medical history and psychological history, shall be: (1) Completed for each child; and (2) Included in the treatment plan. (b)(1) A p…

9 CAR § 31-1005. Children's records. (a) The agency shall keep a confidential case record for each child that includes the following: (1) Demographic information; (2) Plan of safe care, if applicable; (3) A complete intake; (4) Assessments; (5) Consents, including consent for med…

9 CAR § 31-1006. Behavior management. (a) The agency shall have a written discipline policy that is consistently followed. (b) Discipline shall be directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control. (c) Discipline shall be appropriate to the child’s: (1) Age;…

9 CAR § 31-1007. Personnel. The agency shall have: (1) A physician currently licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board who has experience in the practice of psychiatry; (2) A director of nursing or nurse manager currently licensed in Arkansas as a registered nurse; (3) A clini…

9 CAR § 31-1008. Ratio and supervision. (a) The facility shall not exceed its total licensed capacity. (b) Childcare staff shall be responsible for providing the level of supervision, care, and treatment that is necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of each child at the f…